The Social Archeology Channel

From 1972-1977, children across America were greeted each morning to a shy hippopotamus named Henrietta, a wise owl named Charlie, and fun-loving frog named Freddy. Throw in a pair of human hosts, Doug and Emmy Jo, and you have the syndicated kid’s show, The New Zoo Revue. Continue reading...

By today’s standards, where the world is filled with portable music emanating from iPods, the eight-track tape seems rather (click) antiquated. Big and bulky, the endlessly-looping tape contained within also had this annoying habit of (click) interrupting songs midway through with an audible click as they moved through each of their quadrants. Furthermore, the intended order of songs was often disrupted, and occasionally (click) long periods of silence lingered between tracks. Having said that, they allowed, for the first time, the ability to bring music of one’s choice into (click) an automobile, as well as a portable listening device – something previously impossible. Continue reading...

Ah, Scrabble. Play it often enough and you start seeing those lettered tiles in your dreams, forming words that would be worth 100 points if they actually existed. The much-loved game has endured for over 50 years, providing both family enjoyment and competitive play. Out of all the board games, Scrabble is truly a Cinderella story. Continue reading...

When it comes to Halloween, The Monster Mash may be the unofficial anthem, but Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House has served as the holiday’s soundtrack for nearly five decades. Released by Walt Disney Productions in 1964, this novelty record is beloved by millions of former kids for its spooky sound effects and campy skits, and has been played at countless Halloween parties over the years. Continue reading...

You've just spent the evening knocking on neighborhood doors, your pillowcase or plastic jack o' lantern gradually filling with sweets. Upon your return home, you dump out the rewards of your labor and scan your hard-earned bounty. Like every other kid who has ever performed this ritual, you are apt to come across a few rolls of cellophane-wrapped candies called Smarties. Both sweet and tangy, with a distinct powdery consistency, they have remained a Halloween tradition for over six decades. Continue reading...

There are plenty of scary films worthy of mention, but none that shocked the population at large quite like The Exorcist. The story of a young girl possessed by the devil was the highest-grossing film of 1973 and is still considered one of the scariest horror movies ever made. Continue reading...

Also known as a winter squash, our friend the pumpkin is renowned the world over as a popular food source. And when autumn rolls around, the large orange globes find their way into numerous dishes, most notably those delectable pies served around Thanksgiving. But the pumpkin also plays another role in October, one slightly more sinister, by serving as an ominous source of nocturnal illumination in the form of the jack o’-lantern. Continue reading...

There is a segment of the population that has long preferred their candy have a little pucker power. There is no shortage of sour flavors in the sweets aisle, as companies wage battle to deliver the most eye-watering, face-contorting punch possible. And yet, with all of these choices, legions of fans remain loyal to the sour morsels that has served them well for decades - Zotz. Continue reading...